The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-10-16
MIR. Cleveland's Good Advice to the
Young Men Of Kansas City.

We do the President no injustice when we
say that his speech at Kansas City, at the
laying OF the corner stone of the Young
Mems Christian Association building. is dis
tinctly inferior to speech which he deliv-
cred upon . precisely similar occasion In
Buffalo ON Sept. 7, 1882.
Mr.. CLBvELAND's theme then, as now, was
the direct connection between private moral
lily and good citizenship. He was Mayor Of
Buffalo at the time, AMI he congratulated his
fellow citizens on the prosperity Of an institu-
ton which taught young men their moral
duty, and which was therefore a safeguard
against the temptations Of fast life and
vicious diversions. Here Is the language
which he used in addressing the Young
Mems Christian Association Of Buffalo:
Eve have been 100 much In the habit Of regarding In
stitutions Of this kind entirely disconnected from
any confederation OF municipal growth pro perity
considered sndid structures active
trade Increasing commerce. and growing manufactures
- only thiuss worthy Of public spirited
itixena ,ments reelection reminds US that this Is
wrong. Tho citizen b better business man II he s
Christian gentleman and business 10 not the less
prosperous and successful conducted upon Christian
principles
when W consider tho difference. a. member Of
the community between the ynunR who. under tho
influence Of such association has learned his duty TO
his fellows and the state and that who, subject
70 restraint yields to temptation. and thus
becomes vicious and ninaL the Importance Of an
institution In midst which leads our youth and
younx in the Of morality and good citizenship
must be freely admit ed"
The Kansas City speech on Thursday last
was substantially the same as that delivered
at Buffalo five years ago; but the language
ohan Far tho hatto tba
tone of Christian fervor was less pronounced
in the busy activities Of daily life are apt
neglect insirumsntatiss which quietly but enectu
ally doing most important service In moulding
u0nAi character. Among those. and challenging but
little notics compared with their valuable results,
the Young Mems Christian Associations scattered
throughout our country All will admit the supreme
importance Of that honesty and hxed principle which
rest upon christian motives and Purposes and all will
acknowledge the sad and Increasing temptations which
bsSst mon and lure them to their destruction
ITO cave these young men, often times deprived Of
restraints Of home from degradation and ruin and
for ussfu and honor these associations
have entered the ned Of Christian effort and push
Ing their noble work When 1t II considered that the
subjects Of their Efforts DO the active for
sooder evil In the next generation mere worldly pru
dcta these associations should be aided
aud encouraged"
Twice and twice only has Mr. CLEVELAND
ventured to discuss In public this delicate
but important theme. the relation Of Chris
tian morality and virtuous private conduct
to good citizenship and the highest NUM-
cipal or national interests. On both occa-
sione. by rather curious coincidence. Mr..
CLEVELAND has been at the time candidate
for public Office. When he delivered the
Buffalo speech he was q candidate for the
Democratic nomination for Governor OF New
York. At Kansas City. five years later, he
appears as a candidate for denomination for
President Of the United States.
In another respect, however, the circum-
stances under which he urges the necessity
OF an organized effort to interpose moral
restraints between young men and the
temptations which lure them to vice and
destruction. have greatly changed since the
Buffalo address. His excellent advice to the
young men Of Kansas City has additional
weight as coming from one who Is now living
a perfectly wel-ordered domestic life, and Is
no longer himself exposed to the dangers OF
vicious influences. And yet it Is strange that
his present treatment Of the subject should
be less earnest fervent, clear; and explicit,
and feebler In every way than was that in his
memorable appeal OF five years ago.